Curtain stretcher



April 3, 1934.

l. CREEL 1,953,532

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed May 27, 1933 gi/i;-

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Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED sTATEs-PATENT orifice,A i

1,953,532 CURTAIN srnnrcnan y Isaiah Creel, New Castle, Pa. Application May 2v, 1933, serial No.. 673,256-

l claims. (ci. 45-24) i l Among the objects which I have in view are the following.

. The provision of a curtain stretcher with flush ends which will be convenient to erect and which 5 will be sturdy .and substantially rigid when extended or erected for use, maintaining rectangular corners and which Awill have no protruding portions likely to catch on the clothes or otherwise cause inconvenience or damage.

The provision of a curtain stretcher which when ples of my invention, Fig. 1 is a broken front elegg; vation of a curtain stretcher in its extended form ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a broken end View of the same showing one of the supporting legs and its brace.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation on enlarged scale a@ showing the construction of one oi the top corners, the top rail and post being shown in their extended relation in solid lines and the post being shown folded relative to the rail in dotted lines.

Fig. e is a sectional detail of the corner structure taken on a plane parallel to that of `Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken front elevation showing the hinge structure which unites the two parts of one oi the horizontal rails of the curtain stretcher.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the irregular line 'i1-7 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a broken elevation showing one end of the lower horizontal rail and illustrating the l5 means for connecting it to the corresponding post.

Fig. 9 is a broken front elevation ci the adjustable intermediate bar with all but one of the pin blocks removed. l

Fig. lll is a broken side elevation ci the same.

Fig. l1 -is a cross sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 9.

v Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view showing one oi the pin blocks. 1

Referring to the drawing, the curtain stretcher dit dll

comprises two vertical posts 1; a top horizontal not in use may be conveniently folded up into Other objects'will appear from the following rail formed of two parts, 2a and 2b, which rail is hinged at its ends to the tops of the posts 1 and whose parts are hinged together at the center as shown; a bottom horizontal rail also composed oi' two parts, 3a and 3b, which are hinged together at the center and are provided with means for connecting their outer ends at the desired elevation to the posts 1, and an adjustable V intermediate bar 4. The posts and two horizontal rails are provided on their front surface with the usual pins 5 spaced at regular intervals, usually on one inch centers.

For general domestic use, the posts are preferably approximately six feet in length and the twopart rails about eight feet long. The intermediate bar may be about ve feet in length. v'l'.hese' dimensions may be varied to suit different uses. The elements described are preferably but not necessarily made of wood.

The posts l are provided with supporting legs 6r whose upper ends are pivoted to brackets 7 extending rearwardly from the posts 1. 8 represents metal braces pivoted to the brackets 9 on the posts l. and provided with a longitudinally 'disposed slot 10 through which extends the bolts ll protruding from the leg. 11a represents a nut on the bolt. Thus the legs 6 may be adjusted to give the correct angle tothe stretcher and the nuts lla are then tightened against the braces 8, thus holding the structure rigid. The legsare folded against the posts when the stretcher is not in use.

The top corner construction of the stretcher is substantially as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the top rail and the post being provided respectively with angular plates 12 secured as by screws to their rear faces and having their free ends projecting inwardly as shown and overlapping and pivotally connected together as by the pin 13. Wher extended in rectangular relation as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3 and also as shown in Fig. d, the end of the top bar member rests on and is supported by the squared top oi the post, and when the stretcher is folded up the two elements are swung so that they are parallel as indicated by the post shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. l

It is very important to solidly brace the elements when they are in their extended rela-tion so that their mutual rectangular relation may be maintained and the corner may be held rigid. I insure this by providing the hat metal rectangll" lar bracket 14 which is secured to the top edge of the top rail as by screws. and which rits on the top surface and the end surfaceof the top rail and extends beyondthe latter suiliciently to oversame is in its extended position, as clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. 15 is a relatively long bolt nxed to and extending outwardly from the post 1 and thevfree end of the bracket 14 is slotted as at 16 so that when the members are4 moved into their extended relation the bifurcated end 'of the bracket straddles the bolt 15 which occupies the slot 16. 17 is a nut on said bolt 'which is then tightened up snugly against the outer surface of the bracket 14, thus clamping the elements rigidly together in their extended relation and also insuring a rectangular `corner for the stretcher. When the stretcher .is to be folded up the nuts 17 are loosened and run out on the bolts 15 so that when the elements are folded the free end of the bracket lli will clear the nut.

I prefer to extend the plate l2 of the post up beyond the upper end of the latter, as shown in Fig. 3, thus bracing the end of the top rail from the rear when the stretcher is erected for use.

As has already been stated, the upper and lower horizontal rails are each formed oi two parts which are hinged together at thecenter. As the hinge structure may be the same in the case of both rails, I will describe that of the top rail in connection with the showing in Figs. 5, 6 and '7. As shown in said gures the two members 2a and 2b have squared ends arranged to abut in fiat surface contact when the members are alined. One of said members, 2a, has secured thereto an angular metal bracket 18 which has a portion which tits against the rear face of the member 2a and issecured thereto as by screws.

Said bracket extends beyond the end of the member 2a, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 and is providedwith a rectangular trough ange 19 at its l lower edge which embraces the lower edge of the member 2a and likewise receivesthe lower edge of the member 2b when the two members are alined, as best shown in Fig. '7. The bracket 18 is extended above the top edge of the member 2a. Attached to the rear face of the member 2b, as by screws, is the angular bracket 20 which extends forwardly past the end of the member 2b to overlap the bracket 18, the extended portion oi' the bracket 20 being offset outwardly so as to clear the bracket 18 and to t snugly against this outer surface. The bracket 20 is also extended above the top edge of the element 2b and 21 is a hinge pin which engages registering holes in the two brackets so as to connect the parts 2a and 2b in hinged relation.

22 is a relatively long bolt which is iixed to and protrudes from the lower edge of the element 2b adjacent to its hinged end and the ange 19 of the bracketv 18 has its outer end slotted, as indicated at 23, so that the bracket 18 may straddle the bolt 22 whenthe parts 2a and 2b are alined. 24 is a nut on the bolt'22 which may be tightened up against the flange 19, thus clamping the parts 2a and 2b rigidly in their alined relation.

When the stretcher is to be folded up, the nut 24 is backed away so that the part 2b may be swung counterclockwise in 5 and clockwise An Fig. 6 into substantial parallelism to the part 2a. A

I have shown the nut 1'! as a wing nut and the nut 24 as a cylindrical knurled nut but it will be understood that either or any other suitable type ofnutmaybeused.

The ends of the lower horizontal rail 3a-3b are each provided with rectangular brackets 25 attached as by screws to the rear face of the rail member and extending on beyond the same so that its rectangular bent end 26 forms with the end of the bar member a three sided socket 27 in which may fit the corresponding post 1. vThe ange 26 is provided with a threaded hole in which is mounted the thumb bolt 28 which has an enlarged inner end so that when the post l occupies the socket 27 the bolt 28 may be screwed up tightly against the post, thus clamping the posts to the lower horizontal rail at each end of the latter. 1

It is obvious from the foregoing that the curtain stretcher may be quickly set up from its folded state and fixed in its extended condition with its angles true rectangles and with its parts heid in rigid relation to each other, and also that the lower horizontal rail may be quickly detached from the stretcher and foided and the legs may be unclamped from the tcp rail and may be folded against the same and the two parts of the top rail may be folded together, enabling the stretcher to be packed away in small compass.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to l1 inclusive, the vertical intermediate bar i is formed of a metal plate having a channel shaped cross section with the walls of the channel outwardly converging as best illustrated in Fig. l1. The upper end of the channel bar 4 is provided with a rectangularly bent bracket 29 which is of proper size and shape to hook snugly over the top rail a's shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of the bar 4 is provided with a horizontal flange 30 having a threaded hole in which'is screwed the thumb nut 31 having an enlarged upper end.

Mounted in the channel of the bar 4 are a plurality of blocks 32 having base portions of proper shape to beslidably held in the channel of the bar 4 and to be prevented from outward displacement thereirom. The arrangement is such that the channel or bar 4 is provided with sufcient of the blocks 32 that when the blocks are spread at any point to admit one of the members 3a or 3b of the lower rail the channel will be nearly iilled from top to bottom. Then the thumb bolt 31 is screwed upwardlyand tightened against the lower block, thus forcing the lower blocks upwardly against the lower rail and clamping the latter between the adjacent blocks, and also by upward pressure of the top block clamping the intermediate bar 4 tightly to the top rail.

Each of the blocks 32 is provided with a pin 5 at its center and the blocks are of such dimensions that the distance between the pins of abutting blocks is equal to that between adjacent pins on the posts and rails. Thus if the latter distance be one inch, the blocks would be made an inch in vertical dimension, thus giving an inch space between the pins of adjacent blocks. Again by setting the pins on the top rail half an inch from its lower edge, and those on the bottom rail half an inch from its upper edge, the pins on the intermediate bar will be properly located relative to those an the rails so that thepins will always be properly located for engaging the curtain or curtains to be stretched regardless of the eiective dimension to which the stretcher is adjusted. 1440 lated to properly iit the particular size or curlMl tain. Again my improved construction insures perfectly rectangular corners and corner rigidity so that the stretched curtains are perfectly square and uniformly stretched throughout.

The stretcher may be quickly erected and adjusted for use and as quickly folded up into small compass for storage or transportation.

It is simple and inexpensive kof construction and extremely durable.

l. In a foldable curtain stretcher, the combination with a pair of posts and a top rail'and a bottom rail connecting the posts, the bottom rail being adjustable vertically on the posts, of an intermediate vertical member arranged to conneet saidrails and adjustable along the same, said member comprising a bar, a plurality of pin blocks mounted on said bar and'slidable longitudinally thereof, said pin blocks being'arranged to be separated at the proper level to receive between them the bottom rail, and means for applying pressure to said blocks longitudinally of the bar to clamp the rail to said member.

2. In a foldable curtain stretcher, the combination with a pair of posts and a top rail and a bottom rail connecting the posts, the bottom rail being adjustable vertically on the posts, said posts and rails being provided with curtain-anchoring pins on their front faces, of an intermediate vertical member arranged to connect the rails and adjustable along the same, said member comprising a back bar of channel cross-sectional shape and a plurality of pin-blocks slidably mounted in the channel, said pin blocks being of proper width whereby the pins are properly placed to receive the edge of the curtain, said blocks being arranged to be separated at the proper level to receive the bottom bar between them, and means for `forcing the blocks longitudinally o! the bar to clamp the rail stationary between adjacent blocks.

3. In a ioldable curtain stretcher, the combination with a pair of post/s and a top rail and a bottom rail connecting the posts, the bottom rail being adjustable vertically on the posts, said posts and rails being provided with curtain-anchoring pins on their front faces, of an intermediate vertical member arranged to connect the rails and adjustable along the same, said member compri-sing a back bar of channel cross-sectional shape and provided at one end with a hook to t over the top rail and at the other end with an abutment member, a plurality of' pin blocks slidably mounted in the channel, the blocks being arranged to be separated at the proper level to receive the bottom rail between adjacent blocks, and the abutment member being forced upwardly against the lowermost block to clamp the bottom rail to the member and to clamp the top hook ilxedly to the top rail.

4. A curtain stretcher element comprising a metal bar of channel ,cross sectional shape, said channel having outwardly converging walls, a plurality of pin-blocks mounted in the channel and slidable longitudinally of said element, and an adjustable abutment member arranged to apply pressure to said blocks longitudinally of said element for the purpose described.

5. A curtain stretcher element comprising a metal bar of channel cross sectional shape, said channel having outwardly converging walls, a plurality of pin-blocks mounted in the channel and slidable longitudinally of said element, means for limiting the movement of said .blocks toward one end of said element, and an adjustable abutment member at the other end of said memberv to apply pressure to said blocks longitudinally of saidmember..

ISAIAH caser.. 

